• We live in an increasingly global world. Many more people live and work far from their country of origin.
• As a result, the number of international schools has increased exponentially.
• Also as a result, many expatriates do not assimilate into their host culture at all - remaining apart, with social circles (and school communities) from their country or countries most similar to their own.
• Most international schools have in their mission statement or ESLRs something about creating global citizens. Staff and students do not necessarily embody this principle in their lives.
• As pressure from accrediting bodies (like WASC) requires schools to show proof that they are addressing and assessing ALL their standards, including their ESLRs, international schools will need to get more serious about what they're actually doing to truly engender global thinking.
• In our optimistic view of the future, international schools will embrace their host cultures, and look for truly meaningful ways for students to be involved in their local community and the wider global community (through service learning, etc.).
Project: Globalism in International Schools
Our premise: (??)
• We live in an increasingly global world. Many more people live and work far from their country of origin.
• As a result, the number of international schools has increased exponentially.
• Also as a result, many expatriates do not assimilate into their host culture at all - remaining apart, with social circles (and school communities) from their country or countries most similar to their own.
• Most international schools have in their mission statement or ESLRs something about creating global citizens. Staff and students do not necessarily embody this principle in their lives.
• As pressure from accrediting bodies (like WASC) requires schools to show proof that they are addressing and assessing ALL their standards, including their ESLRs, international schools will need to get more serious about what they're actually doing to truly engender global thinking.
• In our optimistic view of the future, international schools will embrace their host cultures, and look for truly meaningful ways for students to be involved in their local community and the wider global community (through service learning, etc.).
• These efforts will include staff members!
Where do we go from here?